


:\< 



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Glass ll (^'\ - 
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'HE DUTY OF (^^^ 



Ihimn in a Just War: 




MSCOURSE^ 



DELIVERED IN 



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STONEIIAM, (MASS.) APRIL 8, 1813, 



BEING 



TEE BAY OF THE STATE FAST. 



BY JOHN H. STEVENS, V. D. M. 

;/ 

Paiior of the Church in said To'un. . 



?CBlIS[iED Br DESIXE OF i'HZ HEARERS. 



rOUGHKEEPSIE 



PRINTED BT C. C. ADAMS. 



1813. 









^'-3 J' 



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DISCOURSE. 



JUDGES, V. 23. 



Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord^ curse ye 
bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to 
the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the 
mighty. 

ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is 
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, foj: correction, for in- 
struction in righteousness. 

The passage I first read, we find recorded in the song 
composed by Deborah, an inspired prophetess, and judge 
in Israel. She composed and sung this song in conse- 
quence of a signal victory gained over the enemies of 
Israel, in time of war ; a war which God himself had 
commanded them to engage in, for the defence of their 
rights, liberties and blessings. 

Israel, for whom God had done great things, sir*ied 
with a high hand against him ; and to punish them for 
their idolatry and wickedness, the Lord suffered Jabin, a 
powerful king of Canaan, to oppress them, and bring 
them into bondage, and afflict them twenty years. This 
humbled them, and they cried unto the Lord^ and he di- 
rected Deborah to call upon Barak to collect an army, and 
march against the army of Jabin, commanded by Sisera, 
and the Lord promised to deliver them into his hand. 
When the requisition for men was made, some of the go- 
vernors offered themselves and the people willingly ; 
others held back and refused their aid : however, Debo- 
rah, tlic prophetess, and Barak, the general, with his 



/ J 

little army, marched and attacked the mighty host of their | 
enemies, and overthrev/ them, and so delivered their na- 
tion from, oppression ; for the Lord Avas with them, and 
fougkt for Israel against their enemies. This one battle 
was so decisive that it put an end to the war, and the land 
had rest forty years. Deborah and Barak celebrated 
this victory in a divine song, in which the}- call upon 
kings and all people to consider v/hat wonderful thinfj;i. 
God had done for Israel ; they describe the sin and mise- 
ry of the nation ; they render praise to God ; they gl ve 
commendation to some of the Israelites, and pass cen- 
sures on others, especially the inhabitants of Mcroz, 
mentioned in the text. Curse ye Meroz, said the angel 
of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants tliereof; he- 
cause they came not to the help of the l.ord^ to the help 
of the Lord against the mighty. 

This passage of scripture contains the following gene- 
ral truths : 

1. One nation may be so oppressed by ancther, that it 
may be the will of the Lord lor them to take up arms, 
and go to war with their oppressors. 

2. In such a case it is the duty of the whole nation to 
unite against the common enemy. 

3. If any part of the nation, in these circumstances, 
Avithhold their aid and help from their own nation, andLJde 
with the enemy, it is highly displeasing to God. 'lliis 
was the conduct of the inhabitants of Meroz, and tiie 
anarel of the Lord ordered them to be cursed, with a bit- 
ter curse. 

4. A nation engaged in a just war, a v/ar for the de- 
fence of their just rights; a war that God approves — 
such a war God considers as his oww cause, and to help 
in such a cause, is to come to the help of the Lord ; and 
if the nation in these circumstances humble themselves 
for their sins, and cry unto the Lord he v/ill be v/iththcm, 
and whatever difficuliies may be in the way, however 
powerful the emeny may be, if they have nine hundred 
chariots of war, or a thousand ships of war, yet the Lord 
will give victory to the oppressed, who humbly trust in 
hipi. 



In ordei to illustrate and make applicatioii oi" this sub- 
ject, for our benefit on this occasion, I 'oball consider the 
similarity between the character and conduct of Israel and 
that of our nation, and the similarity between God'i deal- 
ings towards Israel, and that of our nation. 

1. What great tilings the Lord did for Israel in bring- 
ing them out of bondage in Egypt, conducting them to 
Canaan, casting out the heathen, and planting them in the 
good land. Israel, the seed of Abraham, God's friend, 
were enslaved in Egypt ; Pharaoh, a cruel tyrant, oppres- 
sed them, and set taskmasters over them, and made them 
serve with rigor, and pre\ ented their v/crshipping God 
agreeably to the dictates of their own consciences. They 
cried unto the Lord in their distress, and he beard them, 
and sent Moses to deliver them. God ^vrougilt Vv-cnders 
in Egvpt by the hand of Moses ; and at length lie brought 
his people out, and led them on to the Red Sea, ^vhich the 
Lord divided, and led them through on dry gromid ; their 
enemies attempting to follow, Vv^ere swept away by the re- 
turning bii'ows. He led them hi the wilderness ibrty years 
with a pilhr of cloud by day, and a pillar of lire by night ; 
h.e wrought m.any wonderful miracles on their behalf, and 
at last divided Jorden, and led them over into Canacjn. And 
when the heathen combined against them, the Lord fought 
for tliem, and gave them ihe victory, and settled them 
quietly in tliat good land, flo\ying as v/ith milk and honey, 
and they spread abroad, and became a great nation. 

What a picture this exhibits of the gTcat and marvelous 
thintcs God has done for our nation. Our fatlicrs were in 
bondage in England, afflicted v/ith the hard lumd of tyrar.n}- 
and oppresssion ; they were persecuted, oppressed and 
proscribed ; and not sullered the free enjoy me i5t oi' their, 
holy religion. They were oppressed M'ith enormcuis 
taxes, were prosecuted, imprisoned, and fined, for v/or- 
shipping God agreeably to the dictates of their own con- 
science. They cried unto the Lord in their distress, and 
he heard them, and put it into their hearts to emigrate 
from their native country, to thiis then howling wilderness. 
The Lord took our lathers under his protection, r.nd 
brought them across the wide ocean. ^ and plar.ted them in 



this American Lar.d ; and when the Jieathcn, who were 
numerous, combined iigainstthem, the Lord was on their 
side ; he we:ikened nnd destroyed the enemy by pesti- 
lence, and in various ways, and gave our fathers victory ; 
he caused them to ta!;e root, increase, and spread abroad 
in this land ; he blessed them in their basket and store, 
aiid raised them up to a gveat ])cople. And wlicn the 
mother country saw their prosperity, she envied them, and 
souglit to oppress them licre as she had done at home ; 
she sent over her fieets and armies, to enforce her unjust 
mandates. Our fid^TS, trusting in the Lord, took up 
arms, determined to defend their riijhts ; and the God of 
armies Vv'as with them, and defeated the enemy, and led 
thern en to victory, injependener, and a rank among the 
nations of the earth. The Lord lias, since that period, 
greatly blessed and prospered this nation, and favoured 
us with every temporal and spiritual, civil and religious 
privilege ; he has eaiiscd us to become a great, rich, and 
powerful nation. G.-hI has dene, great and marvellous 
things for us as a pccjile. 

2. After God h;.d done jjueli r;rcat thinr>:s for Israel, 
and had settled them in the good land of Canaan in peace, 
where they cnjo3Td his word and ordinances, and every 
blessing, we should have supposed they v.'ould have for- 
saken all otivjr gods, and feared, worshipped, and served 
the Lord Jcliovah with all the lieart. But instead of tlia 
they sinned against him, they f::;r.-.ook the rock of their 
siilvatioa, and A\'en!: after strange gods, and worshipped 
them, as it is said in onr cc^.text, iV>ci/ cJiosc tJicm ?:cw 
^'ods, and did tvi! in the sight of the Lord. 

y\nd has not our nation in this particular, done as Israel 
did, for.'^iiken Gcd,Nand done great evil in his sight? When 
we consider what Or 'at tilings God has done for our na- 
tion, in planting it in this gf>od land, increasing and pros- 
pering it, andwlicn its oiemies rose up, and came in 
like a flood, the I.,r.rd lifted w\) a standard, and arrested 
their progress, and gave us victory, gave us peace, and 
established us as a • atjon ; and b'essed us on every hand, 
aiid gave us his \vord, his sabbath, his gospel, and ordi- 
iiancc^. When v;;: consider hov/ i-^uch Gc>d has done for us, 



might it not have been expected tliat v/e should have been 
an obedient people, that we should have chosen God for 
our portion, and iepTed, loved and served him, v>'ith all 
the heart ; tiiat our inquiry would have been, ]fhat shall 
xve render unto the Lord, for all his benefits unto us, as a 
people ? But, instead of this humble, pious, obedient, 
holy conduct, we have, Jeshurun-like, xvaxed fit, and 
kicked against the Lord ; we have as a people, farsaken 
the Lord God of our forefathers, and lightly estimated 
the rock of our salvation. Like Israel, we have done 
great evil in the sight of the Lord, and provoked the Holy 
One to anger. All kinds of iniquity have abounded in 
this nation, and been crying to heaven for vengeance. We 
have been ungrateful to God, the giver of all our mercies ; 
we have been ungrateful for our health and strengtii ; un- 
grateful for our food and raiment ; ungrateful for our 
civil and religious liberty ; ungrateful for- tiie gift of 
peace, that we have enjoyed so long ; ungrateful for the 
sabbath, the gospel, and its ordinances ; ungrateful for 
Jesus Christ, and liis great salvation ; ungrateful for the 
Holy Spirit, and his gracious influence in the conversion 
of sinners. 

Pride is a sin which has greatly prevailed in tliis nation. 
We have been lifted up with pride ; we have been proud 
of our independence ; proud of our liberty ; proud of 
our constitutions of government ; proud of our rulers, 
our numbers, and weaUh. Some have been pi'oud of 
their religion ; and others of their wickedness, glorying in 
their shame. Pride is a hateful, dangerous sin. Pride 
goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 
God is said to know the proud cfar off, to hate pride ; and 
he has said he xvilistdui the pride of all flesh. 

Profanencss is another awful sin in our land. We have 
become a profane nation ; thousands and thousands, every 
day, blaspheming the holy name of God, uttering horrid 
oaths and imprecations upon themselves and others. All 
ages and sexes are uttering this profane language ; even 
little children, cursing and swearing, and taking the holy 
and reverend names of God and Christ in vain. Thou 
shah not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, is 
the divine command : by reason of swearing the land 



8 

moumeth, and the phasant places of the xvilderness are 
dried up. 

InteiTiperance is another prevalent sin in this nation ; 
the intemperate use of spirituous liquors has become aw- 
fully alarming. It is thought by some, that ardent spirits 
consumed in this nation, cost more than to maintain go- 
vernment. iMany are given up to intoxication, spending 
their property, destroying their health, bringing shame and 
poverty upon their families, and fitting their souls for per- 
dition. This vice leads on to many others, such as idle- 
ness, gaming, lev.dness, and the like. This sin has be- 
come so prevalent and alarming, that serious people 
through the state and nation, are uniting together, and 
forming societies for the express purpose of suppres- 
sing it. 

Falsehood is another great sin, which increases the guilt 
of this nation. A lying spirit has taken possession of the 
hearts of many. What flihehoods ai'e uttered by many 
to cover ihcir own wickedness ; to deceive and cheat their 
feliov/-men in their dealings ; and to injure the characters 
of men, both in and out of office ? How are our public 
prints, which ought to be vehicles of truth, turned into 
channels of falsehood asd misrepresentation ? 

Gaming and vain amusements are prevailing sins which 
many live in, and manj' professed christians too, to the 
dishonour of God and disgrace of religion. Sabbath- 
breaking is another great sin in our land ; how is liic 
Lord's day violated, and turned by many into a holiday 
for feasting, and drinking, and visiting, and riding abroad, 
and doing worldly business ? God s;iid to Israel, If ye 
will not hearken unto me to hallow the Sabbath day, and 
pot to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Je- 
rusalem, on the Sabbath day ; then xvill I kindle ajirc in 
the gates thereof, and shall devour the pahccs of Jerusa- 
lem, and it shall not be quenched. 

Lewdness, perjury and oppression, are great sins in 
this land. Division, strife, and contention are abounding 
sins, which threaten the ruin of our nation; for the Lord 
has said, A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. 
An inordinate thirst for property, and love of money, is 



to be" foiiiid aTr»f>ng the prevailing sins in this nation. 
We are tokl iii (licword of God, The love ofmoneij is 
iJie root of all c7:il. Perhsps there never was a nation 
that manilcf-tcd grcitcr love for money, and zeal to ac- 
quire wealth, than this nation has for many years. It 
Ijas been spoken of by otlicr nations, what lovers of 
money Amtricrtns were ! many liave made a god of 
n-eakh, ai'id ivorshipped mammon. It is owing to this 
capidity in niaiiy, tliat the noble flame of patriotism, 
tbL't burnt in tlie hearts of their fathers, is quenched in 
them, and tliey are disposed to supply the enemy, for 
the sake c-f gain. Idolatry htas been no small sin in this 
]nnd ; wc have set up idols inourher.rt, and worshipped 
iheni. Theft, and robbery, and murder, are great sins, 
vv-hicli liOt a fevv" in this nation ha\c been concerned in 
jjerpetrating. The Lord said to Israel, IJlll a man ^ rob 
God ? Yet ve have robbed me, even this rvliole nation. 
'i'his h?;s been our criminal conduct ; "^ve have robbed 
God oftluitlove, homage, praise and adcration, which 
Was liis due, and onr diuy to render. Many great and 
iiv/fiil errors have been embraced b}'- many in this na- 
tion ; cijch as Armir-ianism, Antinomianism, Socinian- 
ism.^ Univcrsalisn-i, Deism, and Atheism. Jesus Christ, 
the eternal Son of God, has been called an impostor; 
the bible has ijcen ridiculed as priestcraft, and dclu- 
cion ; OLperiniep.td religion hns been denounced as 
CRthiij>ia8m, aii'd the work of the spirit of God ascribed 
to S-Uan by m;my. A preached gospel and holy ordi- 
nances have been despised and neglected, and opposi- 
tion to God, to Christ and his holy kingdom, has greatly 
abounded in this nation. O ! what a sinful people wc 
Ivdve been ; U'hat evil we have done in the siditof the 
Lord, to provoke him to anger, and pull down judg- 
mcsits upon us, as it is at this time ! Our sins have been 
the primary cause of all cur sufferings, and our calami- 
ty at the present day ; I fear and deprecate them more 
than all the enemies thatlnve, or can come against us. 

3. God was angry with Israel for th.eir idolatry, in- 
gratitude, profaneness, and wickedness, and to pimish 
them, he sold tl:iem into the hand of Jabin, a powerful 



c. 



V 

■ ' C.& a^.pciir5 from guj poutext. JabiH 

.. .^- iii those days ; he had nine hundred 
■ V. .ni oh hv war, ^and his army was equal. It 3j> 

. •, ... ''^^' he mightily oppressed ■ the chil- 

.^areii of liiraei ; he disarmed them, iu id made tLMn tri- 
bu; -:.id his aoldiers stationed through the land, 

'and by i..c highways ; and v ' :ssions were such, 

'that it b sdd by Deborah inuw , 'I'haf the villages 

were deserted by tht ■cfihabitanfs , .u>. -iighwaysTvere un- 
occupied., and 'the travellers ivalked throuifh by-ways, to 
avoid ihe enemy., When eveii the women vver.t out to 
di'aw wat^r, the archers would wantonly shoot their ar- 
rows at thern/ Thus the Lord " y years suffrr:. 
>d this tyrant Jabin to oppress israci, to punish thv^m 
ibr their wiclccdness, to ir-imble them, ruid cause then: 
to feel tlieir dependence upon him. Now the Lord 
ha^.been trei;ting bar nation in the same Way, and for 
the same reasons, To. punish' u"s' for our many and 
gre^t sins against the Lofd, he, has sinTered the. king" ol 
England, for about itwerfcy year: - pppiess 
us. It1s aboTit trvei-i : .s since England began tc 
iiT- :n and take our vessels,' dn^ijer cue 
pr-' , oUie/ " ^nsult us, ' make dcprcd>:- 

tio -is n0'0..wL.. v/e liaye hccp 

pk .:,-., V ... :e property, and -have sufic: J 

xn;; . r>'.\'.rT. i". ihc -course of twenty j^eas, 

noni :i'd his nation, than Israel 

did ir. ; 'C from Jabin and his nation. Jabin 

was ape. ;ne hundred chariots oi 

iron. * C s fecer. a. powerful king ; he ha? 

■h;- ■ ' <4 war, a>>d by them he has com- 

muii.-.u. ui^. .>. d claimed it as his property; by 

them he' •- • • i the n-:^iions, slaughtered, thou- 

sands, a. jusanxl:;, reduced cities to ashcf,. 

and sD»^nd deaJh ?did dessolalkn far and wide, Wid. 

he has comrAil'tcd every outrage and 
, and murder, manstealing and de- 
aost barbdrous .nations have beer, 
','^n from 'us, i^n time of peacc 
:.n,*abbut a thousand v-'b- 



V, i '. .'uti j^ 






; v»,'i. '* 'V-J 



/Is, with, their rich cargoes, carried thenv into herowa 
ports, condemned a^id sold diem, and put , the raoney. 
into her own coiFers, to the amount of. many miihuaa of 
dollars, ~ Ail this we have borne, without resistance, for 
many years. We "''■^•? oomp'uiine4 and rei' r - :'raied, 
and pled witli the^.. ...j ..ogociation, to ceas- ........ plun- 
dering, and taking", our vessels, and to do as justicel 
They have amused us witii fair won , : on tinned' 

the practice Can die armais of history xu; ' hi- 

stance, where a nation at with' another -ad 

witliOut giving any just caubc of Oife :cnpl.r: 

dered to the amount oiir nation hi ' ~ -.v- 

sume. There nov- - —-s,. and 1 v • ;1 

he, such a- case v;..-. -iran inhai^.. . 
But this oppression, great and Ion i^ 
not to be coiTioared to another we have endu 
is, impressing, holding in cruel bondage, starving, 
ivbipping, and sometimes patting to deall 
citizens, who are sea'men. For twcjity yeaii dicy iiavo 
continued the prac dee of impressing c- - ----- ■ -.^v- 

of our merchant vessels, aboard their sL.^.:; ■•. . :.. , ^>.^^~- 
I consider to be manstealingj which the word of Go;-^; 
^'anks among the greatest crimes. It is impossibl- : - 
ascertain the exact number they have impresse. 
from the public documen,tsI have seen, from th(^ nuni* 
bers found aboard their ships we have Uiken, and the 
statement of their own muste:r boolis, whiclihave fallen 
into our hands, from the best inforaiation I have been 
able, to obtain on this subject, it is my opinion > that in 
the course of twenty years, ■ Gr,eat Britain has impress- 
ed more than twenttf thousand of our seamen, multi- 
luJes of whom were native born Amer hus the 

husbiind lias been torn from his beloved ^' 
dreq i .the son from his parents, his, brotiierij and sis- 
ters; the citizen from his home, and : " ' and 
been wafted to distant cUmes,.and held j "-■ ; 
one, five; ten, and eighteen yei^'- ' ,...,.---- 

ment of some, under oath, who ""I to rctV'--n, 

(.■escribing tlielr sufferings, isenou- 
horror. Sorie depose ar.= 



:\ 



12 

pressed, because tlicv would not enter, they h:ne been 
put in irons, kept on bread and water, and whipped a 
dozen lashes every week, until, \\T)W down by hunger 
and scourfj^inr-^, they were forced to enter. One deposed, 
that alter he vvcis irapivssed, he attentpted to escape ; 
was taken, carried back, and whipped sixty hshes, and 
then immersed in cold water one hour. This :--. the 
way our native citizens have been tortured aboard of 
their floating Bastilos. Who that has Am^Tiean blood 
running in his veins, can hCcU- of these cruelties ii^.ihcted 
upon our own citizens, v/ithout indignation ? Yet wc 
are told by some, that this is a suiali aifair, not worth 
contendi]Ag for a moiiient ; but let such urifcelir-g souls 
be plaeed'undcr the discipline of a Br-dsh iT:an-of-war, 
for one year, and they would no longer speak v/ith so 
much apathy al)out the sufllrings of our seafaring, 
brethren. 

England has come into our waters v/idi her ships, 
fired upon our cidzens; and killed thcin. She has sent 
spies among us, to stir up division, withdraw the peo- 
ple from their government, and dismember the union ; 
she has armed ai:d excited the barbnrian of the \vilder- 
ness t.o make war upon us, lay waste our frontiers, to 
butcher and scalp men, women, and children ; and the 
scalp raLing' in ' blood, I have understood they have 
been in the bibl' of pr.rchasint; :\t six dollars a piece — 
but am I stcitin.^ the "horrid conduct of a christian na- 
tion, c>r that of Turks and Arabs ? Yes, that of a chris- 
tian nation towards a christian nation. I have been no- 
ticing some of those evils and oppressions we have been 
suffering irom that government, which has been styled 
" The buhvark of our religion, and the ivorkVs kst hope,'' 
But from such ^ buhvark, may the Lord in mercy save 
us and or.r posterity. Howe\er pious and godly many 
of the people in lvnp;i!ind may be, and t believe God 
has many dear children there, \vho are groar.ing under 
the oppression of their rulers ; yet I do believe, in my 
heart,' that there is not a more corrupt and wicked go- 
vernment on earth than the British government ; the.y 
have, in my opinion, caused more wT.rs, bloodshed, mi- 



13 

stiy, i'.nd dcasclation in the earth, than any otlier go. 
vernment : I believe they have been the cause of inosi: 
of the wars Napvoieon has been engaged in, which liiivc 
caused rivers of blood to flow. No doisbt they were 
the cause of the late war between France and Russia, 
Viiiich the last year bVv'cpt (probably) three hundred 
thc-u sand souls into eternity. I believe the blood of 
inillions is crying to heuven for vengeance i:pon thid " 
corrupt government ; and undoubtedly the time is noc 
1^ distant, when the Lord in Lis anger will overturn it, 
and in ansv/er to the prayers of the eood r?eoDle of Enc • 
land, bless them with a better government. The cruel- 
ties which have been perpetrated bv tliis eovenrment, 
on her own subjects in England and Ireland, en the 
Danes, and in many parts of Europe, in the East and 
West Indies, in Africa snd America, arc enoup;h to 
astonihh heaven and earth, v/ercthev {\iI1y known : but 
enough is known to fill the soul with horror ! 

What v/anton waste of prornrty did thev cause in 

ja x * J 

this land, in tlie Termer war ! Falmouth, Charleston, 
E'anbury, and many other fine towns, were wantonly 
burnt to ashes. But this was nothing compared to the 
savage cruelties committed on our poor prisoners, that 
the ibriune of war had put in their povrer. More than 
eiev^en thousand, it has been s^'d, were poisoned, starv- 
ed, and by other cruel treatment, destroyed a])oard 
their prison-ships, at New- York. And ^\^iIl]a^l Cun- 
riingham, who was provost- marshal to the royal army 
at New- York, (afterwards executed-f'jr forgery,) con- 
I'essed before his execution, thiit Tvith and without the 
orders of his government^ more thnn two thousand A- 
merican prisoners he 1-ad starred to death in the dif- 
ferent churches of Nevv'-York, where iJ-.ey were con-, 
filled; and that he had caused tv/o hundred and scvcii-, 
ty-five to be hung in the dead of the night, and buried! 
Give ear, Ohea^-ens! and be astonished, O earth ! This 
Tvas the way our poor fathers and bretiircn were vacri- 
ficed bv tills C'-overnment and its ao;enls, in the last 
war; and they have begun the same horrid practice 
again in the present war. They allr w th.v. ir savage a^ien 



I'i 



to ifiiirdet aid scalp our poor'woufidfd pn--, ': 

then leave tbemuiiburledfot the swine to feed upon, 
as \vas the case at tlic river Heiisin ; and all this,' to<:'. 
violation of sclemr. ai'ticlesof capitulation. Other pu- 
soriersthey have shut' up in infected j;iik r-iid prison 
thips, and kept tliem on rotten, damage- -' >-'ons,^ 
until d3S??.?:chas ended their days. But ^ ick * 

ens, and "nv ner\'e^ ^t-cmble, inther''^C'''i' of ' v l;:n- 
barilies uv^ -^ich v irom 

thisnatioD.' Now say> tiiy hea? . ; ^rtiai 

world — have we not cause of \v. ;•' • " '^ 

not the v/ar, in which we are enga.^ca, ju::.l r^ anajUiiY 
we not believe a 'God of justice approves of it?' ." 

4. Israel was so oippressed by Jabin/and had borne 
his tyranrjy so long, even twenty years, tliat it was tiae 
Tvili of the Lord that they should take up arms, , and go 
to war, and fight their oppress(...:.. /:nd the Lord r.r 
veakd his rAind and v/ili to Deborah, a prophetess. 
The people cr/ed unto' the Lord in tlieir diGtress, and 
he heard them ; he saw thai they fiad borne the cppres- 
sionbf this haughty tyrant long enoiigli without rcsis- 
tance ; hence he directed Deborah to 'call for Barak, and 
order h'mi to' collect an army and light their oppressoTS. 
Here is one instance among many • others, recorded hi 
ijie bible, where it was the v/>ll of God for a nation - to 
go to v/ar with their oppressors, fot the defence of their 
htst rights ; and I as fully believe, ti-iat it is the, will of 
the Lord God of our forefar - ' ':at our nation should 
take up arms, and "go to v.. ..;h Great Britain, o^-r 
cpprcszc'r. For an^ht 1 ci^ri see "^ -'"vht causes exists .1 
for war in onr cave, as did in I: ; ■ ihey had been 

oppre:::ird for a long tiin^, even twenty years; so ha', .• 
v/c. Their onpresscS's '\Vef6 pvowcrfuh 
'hundred ^c cfw.^Ti, our oppressors arc po\vxriuJ, 

■hey have a Lioiisard ships of v;ar. In'ael had bcwi 
robbed, andf^lundcred, and tlicir persons enslaved. W.^ 
ha^^e been r^-^'^'"! '""d of >72i//iwj. and many of o\ir J^-^- 
^ens c- '-■^' ;.. .'^r'-- csse^ntinl r^^^hts werC as^ 
"C :^r- Thr njbtcr •.i.onf.tr.^ted ': 

: of • r -pplTS. . 



'-} 



^anie. We have remonotratcd, , negociated, implored, 
aiid entrt^atcd oiir oppressors tq ■ Q<iase their depreda- 
tions, leave oiiirnr*"tssin^, abiistng' and enslaving our 
citizen scanu ;t all U- . ~ purpo-:: ''■•;dv/ if we 

iuivo r-:Cii oppjessed as lor.g as Israel was—if, we have 
been plundered sss niuch as th^y ivere — -if we liave 
been enslaved, and tiic persoBG of our citizens injared 
iis much as they were — if \ye have, given the eneiuy no 
just cause to oppress and injure lis— if we have sought 
for 3'C-ars in the ihost fair and honest way 'tn r,^*3.-.!i re- 
dress of our grievanqes in a peaceable wa ' ^ is it 
not just and right foru3.no w to draw • jid, and 
-lefendo.m" I'Jglits,? And hav 

r/Ul of God ? And/that he appre -x in 

\vi)iQh,weare*no'' : ;ag^d against Grea^ 
believe weliaye. ;, -■ \- 

Tn>-!^- ■^^-•':>f .,,^ ^aarchand the world, 

• ■. . s inira 
and tiio desi 
Israel. '•' 

fronia ,v:.cvv oi iU::^ liiorai 
die same, and froma- pariiHei cases, w!^ 
declared cxpressi}^ or implicidy hia ap| •--...-.'-. l. .• .. 

x;&he. . iipoii ' ■ ii'd«;ing 

' > clear ■.. : -cs 

' . . . e now engyf ::he,deicnce 

•.; ^, ;nj^Xits, ^..am iar from sapposing it v^onkl 

-j'j j u::.- .aid right isiiT a. nation' to ^o to ' war, for * every 
insuJt.and iiijyr J :^'"' i.hcjy might receive from another 

iation. No, to,. .:....: ''. ^.-"'.r just and righteous, and 
have it approyed'by h'. - he injuries must be niauj; 
•ind great, and long persisted in ; they must be witlicn.; 
.aiyjiist provocation, and' the injured nation must mrdu- 

til suitable exertions, amicably .and peaceably, to ob 
lain redress* of their grievance^;. Now I believe" iu my 
licart, all this Is' true af cur nation: I have in mypo;s^ 
^cLm! ,i.U tfv- •^-•-■is^.J 'V.rmjients laid bef:)r^ Con9;:^'?y. 



]^n— n-n his in^nd : 


'.v.d TviII by 


: Tsrae' , 


•,vc 


• ■ - 


"favour. 




3 eicrnaiiy 



16 

*>f al] the ntgociatloii for years between our gcvcrn- 
in cut and Great Britain, and I cannot see wJiat could 
have been :3aid or done more by ncfjociation, to con- 
A'ince the enemy of their wron;;^, and prevail with them 
to cease their depi'cdations and oppressions, and do us 
jursticc. For years, diplomatic language has been ex- 
hausted, but in vain ; hence the inference h clear as the 
sun in the firmament of heaven, tl rat the war, in vvhich 
our nation is engaged, is a just v..]\d a righteous war, 
and that God approves of it. 

5, As we \vA\c c\ idence. the war in which v/e arc 
now engaged, is a just and riifnteous vrar, a war whicli 
God arproves, it is the duty of the Vv'holc nation to ur.itc 
in it. ' it v.as the duty of all Israel to unite and grant 
all their aid and help'in tlie war against Jabin their op- 
pressor; e\'^ry tribe, city, town and family, belonging 
to the same nation, were all bound together by the same 
national compact, vrere liable to tlie same oppression 
i)om the enemy, and Avould reap mutual bencilt in case 
of victory ; hence it Vv-as the duty cf all to come up to 
the help of the Lord, the help of the Lord against tlie 
mighty. And, my hearers, it is equally the duty of our 
whoie^iatlon to unite and help in the war we are forced 
into, for the defence of our just and violated rigists. 
It is the duty of every stiite, every city, every ton-n, 
evcrv family and person in this nation, to unite all their 
wisclom, all their vrealth, all tlieir power, and all their 
energies, against ilie common foe, Avho has so long and 
CO wantonly oppressed us. We all belong to the same 
nation : the states are all confederated and bound toge- 
ther in the most solemn manner, under one and the 
h-mc constitution ; wc are a great body politic, and as 
in the natural, so in the poiitical body, if one member 
sujfer, all tlwtncmbers suffer with it; or one member 
he /ioacurcd, all the inewber.^ rejoice xvith it. 

\Ve have all been insulted, we have all been oppres- 
sed, wc-have all been injured, v.-e have ail, felt the ef- 
l(ct<, of the plunder and ro!jI)ery of the enemy ; it has 
h;creascd the price of most foreign articles one third, 
which we h11 help consume ; we are ail hurt by the im- 



17 

Iprcssmcnt of our poor seamen ; we are all concerned 
in tlie injuries heaped upon our nation, and we shall all 
pe benefitted by compelling the enemy to cease her 
iepredations, and make a just and honourable peace 
With u<. Hence it is the imperious duty of every sec- 
tion of the country, of every part of the naUon, t© unite 
;igainsC our great and common enemy. 
""6. I pm led to observe, that some part of Israel re- 
fused ilieir aid and help in the war against Jabin, their 
cruel oppressor, and the Lord was exceedingly dis- 
pleased v/ith thenr, and the angel of the Lord ordered , 
them to be cursed with a bitter curse. When it was 
determined to take up arms against Jabin, "there was 
undoubtedly an express sent to all the tribes, to every 
to*>vn and city, to come up to the help of the Lord, and 
afford their v.id in some way against the enemy; and 
wc should hixvc supposed they would all have united as 
one man, to clefend'their vioiat-ed rights, and obtain sa- 
tisfaction for twenty years oppression. But this was 
not the case ; some, it seems by the sacred account, 
turned out and offered their services willingly : they 
v/ere true patriots. This was the case with the tribe of 
Zebulon a-id Napthali, and some others : Israel was di- 
vided into tribes, much as our nation is into states, and 
each tribe had a head or chief, called a governor, as our 
states have. Some of these governors offered them- 
selves and t'^cir people willingly, to help in the war ; 
see tke 9ih and 18th verse of the context — Mt/ heart, 
said Deborah, h towards the governors of Israel, who 
offered themselves unllingly among the people ; bless 
ye the Lord. Zebulon and Napthali were a people that 
jeoparded their lives unto the death, in the high places of 
the field, Issachar and Benjamin are celebrated as turn- 
ing out, and helping in this contest, and some from 
othpf tribes; but some of the tribes and people would 
n6t help their brethren in this war ; they staid at home, 
and v/ould not go ; some of the governors would not let 
t!ic people go; some thought they had better tamely. 
I}ear then' sufferings, than to wage war with such a pow- 



38 

rrfui enemy, they feared the nine liiindred chariots of 
irtin; others thought the war would cost so much, that 
they had better be slaves than engage in it ; that proba- 
bly they should lose their lives, or some of their friends. 
They had lost tlieir spirit and former patriotism, and 
were prepared to bear the yoke of tyranny ; others, 
(undoubtedly) had been favoured by the enemy, anrt 
perhaps had grown rich by trafficdng with tliem, and 
sup])iying tlitir armies v/ith provision. Those of this 
class were, from these or some other sordid motives, in 
favour of the enemy, and probably justified their horrid 
oppression raid cruelty in tlie land ; some of them 
might have intermarried with the enemy, and formed 
special connexions, and were on terms of intimacy, and 
probably became worshippers of their heathen gods. 
Herice they were Rttcrly opposed t'o the war ; they had 
rather their r.ation should be oppressed twenty years 
longer than go to war ; such characters as these, were 
then, what in modern times arc called tories, enemies to 
their own country, and friends to the encmif ; such, un- 
doubtedly, were the inhabitants of Meroz, mentioned 
in oar text. Nov/ the conduct of ail in Israel who 
withheld their aid, was displeasing to God, but espe- 
cially ths conduct of Meroz ; all v/ho refused their help 
w^cre rebuked, but Meroz was cursed — see the context. 
Fur the divisions of' Reuben^ there were great thoughts 
of heart. V/lnj ahoclest thou among the sheep-folds, to 
hear the hleatings of the fock .^ For the divisi&ns of 
Feuheu there rvas great searching of heart. Gile<:d a- 
bode beyond Jordan ; atulxvhy did Dan remain in ships ? 
Ashcr continued en the sea shore^ end abode in hii 
breaches. Ail ihese were censured for net joining in 
the war ; but it seems their motives were not so bad, 
and they \vere not so criminal, p.s the inhabitants of Me- 
roz — see the text : Curse ye Meroz, said the Angel of 
the J-iord, curse ye Utterly the inhabitam's thereof; be- 
cause they came iyot to the help of the Lord, the help 
cfiJic Lord against the mighty. Dr. Scott, in his i\ctc 
upon this piissage, observes, " That Meroz liad been 



19 

a flourishing; city, but in consequence of this curse, it 
became so obicure that its siLiuition is at present un- 
knowii. Ke observes, the inhabitiints of Mer^oz, though 
Israelites, I'eared the power, and \alucd the friendship 
of the enemy, more than they drctidcd the power, iind 
desired the favour of God, and therefore were joined 
with the accursed Canaanites." 

Now, my brethren, this conduct in Israel exhibits % 
picture of the conduct of our uaticn since the declara- 
tion of war. When we take into view, the length and 
magnitude of our sufferings from Great Britain ; when 
we consider our independence, bought wid^ the best 
blood and treasure of our fathers, cur essential rights, 
and every thing we held dear in life, assailed and threat- 
ened to be torn from us ; when all pacific iPiCans failed, 
and our government, after sevm UKjf.ths cool delibera- 
tion, resolved, as the last ciTortof an injured nation, to 
take up anPxS, and defend our persons, proi^crty, and 
violated rights; we might have reasonably expected to 
fcave seen the nation rise en masse^ and unite, as one 
man, again-st the common foe ; to see patriotism burn- 
in eveTj heart, as it did in '75, and run like lightning 
from Maine to Georgia, from the Atlantic to the west- 
ern boundary of the nation, and to sec the states emu- 
lous, v/hich sh.ould be the m.0£t prompi in furriishing 
their quota, and granting their aid in this most right- 
eous war. But, alas ! we must tell the world we are a 
divided people, for the world knows it ; like Israel 6l 
old, in like circumstances, many are averse to llie war, 
and come not to the help of the Lord against the migh- 
ty. Some of the governcrs withhold the people, and 
prevent their coming to tlic help of the Lord, so tliat 
whole states have withheld tlieir aid ; some of the peo- 
ple withhold their aid from one motive, and some from 
another. Some are afraid of the great cost the war will 
be ; they had rather the nation should continue to beai 
all the oppressions of the CRcmy, than to be at the cost 
of a war ; some are afraid of the thousand ships of the 
enemy, and consider it presumption to goto warvviUi 
auch,a g'igantic power j they JLf:e\ we Licid better be e?sy 



20 

y 

and pay tribute, and be plundered, ar,d huvc a few- 
thousand of our seamen enslaved, and some of tliem 
die under their sufferings, than to eneounter the evils 
of a war. 

Others there are who are bosom frienda to. the ene- 
my, who worship the same idol, monarchy, Vvho have 
been distinguished by her favours, and enriched by her 
commerce, and by supplying her with provisions, both 
lawfully and unlav/fuliy. These men arc ', iolciit a- 
gainst the war ; they brand it widi every epithet ; 
they say it is unjuijt, impolitic, and wicked. Some of 
them justify all the plunder, and murder, and mansteal- 
ing, and oppression of the enemy, and say we ouglit to 
bear it without a complaint, for England is fighting ior 
the liberties of the world. Men of this ^ descriplion 
wall give no aid themselves to the war, and do all the}- 
can to prevent others. Thcv rejoice in the defeats of 
our own arms ; and mourn at the defeat of the enemy. 
Now I believe this conduct is very offensive to a holy 
God. I fully beliere the conduct of all who withhold 
their aid and help in this righteous contest, in which 
our nation is engaged, is reprehensible. But those 
who are taking sides with the enemy, palliating and 
justifying all their injuries, heaped and heaped upon us, 
from love of British gold, or love of British monarchy, 
and hatred to our own republican forms of government, 
and will not come themselves, and try to prevent odiei:; 
from coming up to the help of tlie Lord against the 
mighty — I believe in my heart, such men are toricb, 
and obnoxious in the sight of heaven. And was there 
an inspired Deborah among us, she would undoubtedly 
pronounce a bitter curse upon them, as she did upon 
the inhabitants of Meroz. A curse will follow^ sueli 
characters. For look, my breduen, to the fate of the 
tories of our revolution. Like Cain, whom God had 
cursed, they wandered as exiles, and vagabonds in th: 
earth, shunned and abhorred by every one ; a curse 
pursued diem to the grave, if not. furdier ; and it ever 
will traitors and tories. But as it wds in Israel, so it i-,, 



21 

in our nation when called to arms, many of the govern- 
ors aiicl people have oftered themselves wiilhigly, yea, 
some of the states have done nobly, and particularly the 
people of Kentucky and Ohio, like Zebuloii and Nap- 
thali, have jeoparded their lives unto the death, in the 
higli places of the field. Notwithstanding the faint- 
heartedness of some, and opposition of otliers, yet the 
'/jCut body of the nation, of its real and phj'sical 
strength, are true patriots, are hearty in the cause, and 
arc determined to die free, before they will live slaves ; 
many of tliem ofler tlicmselves willmgly, and are coin- 
ing up to the help of the nation against the mighty. 

7. I obsrrrve once more. A nation that engages in 
a just war, a war for the defence of their just rights, 
w hich is a war that God approves, such a war he consi- 
ders as his own cause, and to help in such a v/ai' is to 
come to the help of the Lord, and if the nation humble 
themselves for their sins, and cry unto the Lord, he wiii 
be with them, and grant them success. He did Israel; 
and I have no doubt he will our nation. The Lord 
went out before the little awny of Israel, vv^hcn tliey 
inarched against the nme hundred chariots of war, and 
disconi fitted the enemy. And has not the Lord gone 
out before our little navy when they have gone out to 
fight the thousand ships of the enemy ? And what ex- 
ploits have they done ? What victories have they 
achieved, to the lasting honour of the nation, and the 
astonishment of the world ? 

It is admirable what our fev/ sliips of war have efilct- 
cd when thev have come in contact with the encmv. 
Two of their iarp-est firij^ates have been sunk, and ano- 
iher taken, and brought into our ports. One sloop of 
war has been sunk, and several taken. In the most of 
these cases the enemy were equal, in some superior, yet 
xhey wtre dreadfully cut to pieces, their Vessels made 
wrecks, and many of their men killed and wounded; 
while our vessels have received but little injury, and 
but fev/ men either killed or wounded. This cannot 
be accounted for upon any other princij)le than the spc- 



«»-■» 



cial interposition of Heaven. On the sea the enemy has 
oppressed us for twenty years : there tliey have pluru- 
dered our property ; there they have enslaved our citi- 
zens. From their 5:hips of war the cry of our poor 
seamen (covered wiih blood and wounds) has p;one up 
to Heaven. The Lord has been witness to their cru- 
elty and oppression on the ocean ; and there he has 
given us success. Great Britain, for twenty years, in 
all her wars, has never met with so nmch ou the s<"a to 
st'\in Iicr pride, as she has experienced from our few 
gallant ships. Let the name of the Lord be praised, 
who giveth us the victory. 

And our private armed ships have met with great 
success. Nilcs' Register stages, th.tt we iiave taken 
from the enemy, since the -war, 369 vessels, in about 
nine months. Surely many of our valiant seamen have 
cause to exclaim with Deborah in the coniext, niif 
soul, thou kast trodden down strength. 

But our success hitherto on the land has not been 
equal to tliat on the ocean. Tiic laiiure'of the north- 
western army, in the out-> t, deranged the whole cam- 
paign on the frontiers, the last season. By the gover- 
nors' v.'iiii -holding the men, and many of the militia re- 
fusing to come up to the help of the Lord against the 
mighty, defeat Jind loss attended our arms in Canad«. 
But there, cin: troops always signalized themselves, 
when led to action. The enemy there have suffered 
about as much as wc have, j^lany of the Indian townr, 
have been laid waste, and many of the savage barbari- 
ans have met the just reward of thci.^ bloody deeds. It 
is easy to account for the want of success on the land. 
Inhere has been want of men., of regular troops^ want 
of discipline, andsubordination, if not v/ant of system. 
All these I trust will bereiiiedied the coming season, if 
the war continues, and trie enemy will not listen to over- 
tures for r>eacc. And I have no doubt of the final 
issue. For I am fniiy convinced die war on our part 
is just and righteous; that the Lord approves of it; 
that he will be on our side, and enable us to bring the 
cnerny to just and honourable terms of peace. 



But my brethren, and friends^ wc, as k nation, as a 
state, as a town, as fciniiies, and individuals, have a great 
duty to do. And this day. calls upon us to enteu upon 
it with all the heart. It is our duty to last and priij, 
and humble ourselves before the great God. Wq 
should realize God's great goodness to us and our ila- 
ticn, and be th?.nkful ; wc should take into view the 
nurnber, s:reatness, and aa;M'avation of our sins, and be 
humbled before God, and reixint us in dust and ashes. 
Our sins are miiny, they l;;ive gone up over us as a thick 
cloud ; they have reached heaven ; they have provoked 
God to aijg'er, aiid he has suiTered our enemies to oppress 
us, and bring Svar upon us, to punish us. We 1 save 
cause to adopt the languar^c of Daniel, the prophet, and 
say " (J ZiOJ'd, ivc have sinned^ and have committed ini' 
guitf/, and have done wick-edly^ and have rebelled, &ven 
Inj departing from thy preceptSy and from thy judg- 
ine?its. Lardy righteousJisss bdongeth unto thee ; 
and unto us conjlision of faces, as at this day. But to 
the Lord cur God belong mercies and forgiveness, 
I though we have rebelled against him. 

With humiliation, coniession, and repentance of our 
sin, we should add fervent prayer. If we arc a pray- 
ing nation and people ; if we pray in faith, and cry to- 
God, he wiU hear and answer, and help us, in ihh 
time of war. We should pray to God to turn us as a 
nation to himself, and bless us. That he would bless 
the President and Congress, and give them ^yisdomy 
I fidelity, and patriotism. That he would unite the peo- 

j pic, cement the confederation, aixl dispose the rulersand 

people in cacli state to do their duty, and come up to 
„ the help of the Lord against the mighty. We should 

n pray the Lord to give wisdom, valor and prudence, to 

our commanders, health and courage to our soldiers 
and marinei^s ; shield them in the day of battle, and 
crown our arm.s by sea and land with success, until 
our enemies are disposed to make ajust and honoarablc 
peace. We a-hould pray to God to stay the pestilence, 
vJid give us health In all our borders. We should im- 



24 

ploi-e h'mi lO bless the labors of the husbandmtin, niiikc S 
ihc earth fruitful, and favour us with a plentiful harvest. 
We should pray the Lord to put an end to dessolating 
wars, and bless all nations with peace and righteousness. 
O ! let us pray God to pour his spirit upon us, and 
make us holy, and prepare us for all sufferings on earthy 
and the enjoyment of himself in heaven. 

O ! may the Lord hear our prayers, and r>ave our 
nation, and all the glory shall be given to the Father, 
>?(/«, and Hofy Ghosty world witkout end. Jmcn. 



THE XN». 



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